(Hay Springs)-The PreSchool and Elementary students in Hay Springs recently celebrated Read Across America a little differently this year. Rather than read Dr. Seuss books, students read their way across America.

Guest readers from Chadron State College, Kyle King, Josh Breske, Nate Ross, and Treston Decoud read four books from different states. California – The Squirrel and Mr. Muir – The story about a little girl who while growing up in the Yosemite Valley in the 1800s. She meets John Muir, an American naturalist and preserver of American wilderness. Oklahoma – The Jingle Dancer – The story of a girl who wants to jingle dance in the next powwow. She gets a row of jingles from an aunt, a cousin, a neighbor and her grandmother. With these rows of jingles she is able to make her dress sing at the powwow. Tennessee – Wilma Unlimited –The story of Wilma Rudolph, crippled by polio as a child, who went on to compete and win at the 1960 Olympics in Rome. Massechusettes – Make Way for Ducklings – The story of a pair of ducks looking for a place to raise their family. The story takes place in and around the BostonPublicGardens. A Google Lit trip accompanying the reading shows the actual locations in the Boston area.

Many thanks are being extended to staff and students, who helped keep things organized and moving smoothly. Students also participated in Family Math Night. The purpose of Family Math Night was to provide a friendly, non-threatening environment for students and their families to have fun with mathematics.

According to Mrs. Anderson on the Hay Springs Public Schools webpage, months of planning went into making this a successful experience. She said great efforts make for great results. In this case it was a collaboration between teachers, administrators, custodians, and cooks at Hay Springs Schools along with professors and pre-service elementary teachers from Chadron State College Anderson said they look forward to an even better Family Math Night next year.